Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
Coin or medal
The invention relates to a coin or medal according to the preamble of claim 1
and to an
embossing method according to the preamble of claim 17.
It has always been the case that coins and medals have been used not only as a
means
of payment but also to immortalise kings and emperors. The use of coins or
medals as gift
items to communicate information is known from DE 10 2004 033 356 Al. In that
case a
storage medium (for example a USB stick) is used which is incorporated into
the interior of
the coin or medal. The surface of the coin or medal serves in that instance
for decorative
purposes.
The embossing of motifs, which are formed only from arranged rows of
depressions, on
coins or medals and the associated embossing stamp are known from DE 601 02
007 T2.
In that case, the colour shading of embossed images is generated by means of
the
distance between rows of impressions positioned very close together. The depth
of colour
can be adapted by the depth of the rows. These very closely positioned rows of
depressions are engraved by means of laser technology.
Sound media for music and sound recordings are generally extensively known.
Now, if
these soundtracks are placed onto specific media materials, diverse
application
possibilities arise such as for example the miniature record made from
chocolate
described in DE 20 2008 003 639 Ul. This is designed in such a way that it can
be played
by means of a commercially available record player.
Chocolate is a highly perishable material which also does not have a high
level of
temperature stability. Now, if it is desired to use a miniature record for
example as a
memento, it is necessary to use more stable materials.
Therefore, the object of the invention is to provide a coin or medal according
to the
preamble of claim 1 which forms a long-lasting memento for example for a
musical
performance, which also has a practical use.
In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved by claim 1 or 17.
Advantageous
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-12-09
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developments are apparent from the dependent claims.
This is achieved in that a coin or medal according to the preamble of claim 1
is provided
which is designed in such a way that a soundtrack is applied to the surface by
means of a
suitable embossing method. This soundtrack should preferably be playable by
means of a
commercially available record player or a playback device developed for the
coin or
medal.
The use of a coin is particularly favourable since a widely used symbolism is
inherent
therein which is known to practically everyone. Coins are the most widely used
means of
payment and are often also used as lucky charms.
One advantage of the solution according to the invention is the longevity of
metal coin or
medal which can be a memento which is usable for many years, exhibits hardly
any
visible changes over time, is scratch-resistant and easy to transport.
The soundtrack in accordance with the invention, which is embossed into the
surface of
the coin or medal, is still playable even after years and does not undergo any
temperature-induced changes provided it is subject to normal outdoor
temperatures and
there is no intention to heat it to the melting point of the metal used.
A further advantage of the coin or medal with an embossed soundtrack in
accordance with
the invention is that the coin or medal consists of solid metal, in particular
of a noble
metal. Such a metal is tough and also aesthetically appealing. Most preferred
are the
following metals: gold (Au), silver (Ag), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd),
copper (Cu) and
nickel (Ni) as well as gilded or silvered metal blanks. Plated blanks can also
be used in
the method in accordance with the invention.
A further advantage of the coin or medal with an embossed soundtrack in
accordance with
the invention is that, despite the smallness of the coin or medal, the
information content is
at least comparable with what can be held on the surface of a single record.
This is
because the use of metals ensures a high level of stability for the soundtrack
and this can
therefore be embossed more densely, i.e. the distance between the individual
sound
grooves can be selected to be smaller than in the case of a conventional
record. The
density of the soundtrack and the resulting information density mean that
furthermore a
slow rotation speed of in particular 33 rpm of a conventional record player or
an even
slower speed of a player device made specifically for the coin or medal can be
selected.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-12-09
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The use of a soundtrack on the coin or medal, the groove of which is embossed
in a V-
shape into the surface of the coin or medal, is particularly favourable, and
this "V" has in
particular an angle of inclination to the horizontal, i.e. to the surface of
the coin or medal,
of 450, which permits the storage of information of a stereo recording.
In an advantageous development, provision is made that, before embossing of
the
soundtrack, the coin or medal is first processed in such a way that it has the
most planar
and smooth surface possible. For this purpose, the coin or medal is placed as
a blank
(round blank) in a pressing chamber which is formed from the embossing ring
with
mutually opposing, mounted first and second embossing stamps. The embossing
ring and
the two embossing stamps consist of a highly pressure-resistant material.
In the embossing step, embossing is preferably carried out at very high
pressure (about
200 to 800 to).
In one advantageous embodiment, the first and second embossing stamps have a
very
smooth surface in the direction of the embossing chamber. On at least one of
the
embossing stamps are located dies which is/are placed into the pressing
chamber
between the blank and the first and/or second embossing stamp. This permits
simultaneous embossing of the corresponding soundtrack and/or of the motif on
the side
of the coin or medal opposite the soundtrack, this side having at the same
time a very
smooth surface, the so-called mirror finish. It would also be possible to
emboss a
soundtrack with a motif on one side of the coin or medal and a further motif
on the side of
the coin or medal opposite the soundtrack.
In a further advantageous embodiment, the first and second embossing stamps
again
have a very smooth surface in the direction of the embossing chamber. A die
which shows
the negative of the desired motif is located on one of the two embossing
stamps. This
permits the embossing of the motif with a very smooth surface, the so-called
mirror finish.
In a second embossing step, by means of a further die, the soundtrack is then
embossed,
possibly with a further motif on the side of the coin or medal opposite the
motif.
In a further advantageous embodiment, the first and second embossing stamps
have a
very smooth surface in the direction of the embossing chamber. In this case,
in order to
achieve optimal compacting and the smoothing out of any unevenness on the
surface
(mirror finish) of the blank a die is again not used. In the second embossing
step, by
means of at least one die which is/are placed into the pressing chamber
between the
blank and the first and/or second embossing stamp, the corresponding
soundtrack and/or
the motif is embossed on the side of the coin or medal opposite the
soundtrack.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-12-09
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It is also possible for the die not to have the diameter of the round blank
but to be smaller
than it. This permits the embossing of structures - such as the soundtrack -
or motifs
which do not extend over the entire surface of the coin or medal.
The use of an embossing chamber in which there is a very small gap, in
particular a gap
of about 0.02 mm, between the embossing stamp and embossing ring is
particularly
favourable. This ensures that as little material as possible is lost.
In an advantageous development of the solution in accordance with the
invention, the use
in particular of a galvanically produced die is provided for.
For this purpose, a metal plate is first provided with a synthetic material
layer of in
particular nitrocellulose lacquer. As in the case of a record, the soundtrack
of the die is
introduced into this synthetic material layer by means of a stylus.
This layer is then galvanically provided with a layer of silver electrolyte,
in particular 4-5
pm thick.
A very thin separating agent is applied to the silver electrolyte layer.
A nickel layer, in particular about 250 pm thick, is galvanically applied to
this layer, it is
then detached and serves as a die.
It is particularly favourable if the coin or medal is provided with a central
hole in the centre
before or after the two embossing processes in order to permit it to be played
on a
commercially available record player.
A further advantage of the solution in accordance with the invention is that
the coin
embossed in this way can be used on a commercially available record player
with the
automatic shut-off deactivated.
Further advantages, details and features will be apparent from the following
description of
several exemplified embodiments of the invention with reference to the
drawing.
In the drawings:
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figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the top view of a first
embodiment of a coin or
medal in accordance with the invention with an integrated soundtrack;
figure 2 is a perspective illustration of a coin or medal in accordance
with the invention
with an integrated soundtrack in the embodiment according to figure 1;
figure 3 is a perspective illustration of a further embodiment of a coin
or medal in
accordance with the invention showing an example of a motif which is
embossed on the side of the coin or medal opposite the soundtrack;
figure 4 is a schematic illustration in detail of a part of the
soundtrack embossed on the
coin or medal;
figure 5 is a perspective illustration of a coin or medal in accordance
with the invention
with an integrated soundtrack as placed by way of example in a commercially
available record player shown in sketch form;
figure 6 is a schematic illustration of the side view of the soundtrack
embossed on the
coin or medal in accordance with the invention and a schematic illustration of
the point of a reproducing stylus of a sound pick-up used to pick up the
soundtrack;
figure 7 is a schematic illustration of the cross-section of the
embossing chamber with
the embossing ring, first and second embossing stamps and the blank of the
coin or medal in accordance with the invention; and
figure 8 is a schematic illustration of the cross-section of the
embossing chamber with
the embossing ring, first and second embossing stamps, blank of the coin or
medal in accordance with the invention and the die used to introduce the
soundtrack and/or the relief on the opposite side.
Figure 1 shows a top view of a coin or medal 2 in accordance with the
invention with a
circumferential outer edge 3. A coin or medal in accordance with the invention
has a
diameter of about 50 mm to 150 mm, in particular about 100 mm. A spiral-shaped
soundtrack 6 is embossed on the surface 4 of the coin or metal 2. As in the
case of a
commercially available record, the soundtrack 6 consists of a continuous
uninterrupted
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-12-09
6
groove which extends at a small distance from the outer edge of the coin or
medal 2 to the
free surface in the middle thereof. This free surface in the middle of the
coin or medal 2 in
which there is no soundtrack 6 is necessary since this region, by reason of
the design of a
commercially available record player 12, cannot be played and has a diameter
of
approximately 20 mm to 50 mm in the case of a coin and 50 to 100 mm in the
case of a
medal. However, if a dedicated playing device for the coin or medal 2 is made,
it would be
possible to make it in such a way that this free surface can be avoided and
the soundtrack
6 can extend as far as the centre of the coin or medal 2. A central hole 8 is
provided in the
centre of the coin or medal in order to render it playable using a
commercially available
record player. If, again, a dedicated playing device for the coin or medal 2
is chosen, it
would be possible to replace this central hole 8 by a depression or even to
avoid it
altogether by a fixing arrangement using the turntable 20.
Figure 2 shows a perspective side view of a coin or medal 2 in accordance with
the
invention with a circumferential outer edge 3. Again, the soundtrack 6 and the
central hole
8 are shown.
Figure 3 shows another perspective side view of a coin or medal 2 in
accordance with the
invention with a circumferential outer edge 3. In this illustration, the
central hole 8 is again
shown but now from the rear side (the side of the coin or medal 2 opposite the
soundtrack). Furthermore, an example of a motif or relief 10 can be seen which
can be
embossed on this side of the coin.
Figure 4 is a schematic illustration in detail of a section of the soundtrack
6 embossed on
the coin or medal. In accordance with the invention, the surface 4 of the coin
consists of a
material which is tough and also aesthetically appealing. For this purpose the
following
are proposed, inter alia, especially the non-ferrous and noble metals: gold
(Au), silver
(Ag), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni) as well as
gilded or
silvered metal blanks, but also steel. Furthermore, figure 4 shows that the
soundtrack 6
can extend straight or in an undulating manner. The way the "lateral"
deflection of the
soundtrack 6 extends corresponds to the acoustic oscillation of the stored
signal and can
be converted into an acoustic signal by means of the tip of a reproducing
stylus 14 of a
sound pick-up 16 illustrated in figure 5 and figure 6.
Figure 5 shows a schematic perspective view of the coin or medal 2 with an
integrated
soundtrack 6 in accordance with the invention as placed by way of example on
the
turntable 20 of a commercially available record player 12 shown in sketch
form. The
centre spindle 18 of the record player 12 therefore centres the medal or coin
2 on the
turntable 20 by passing through the central hole 18. The soundtrack 6 can be
converted
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-12-09
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into an acoustic signal with the aid of the tip of a reproducing stylus 14 of
the sound pick-
up 16.
Figure 6 shows a schematic illustration of the side view of the soundtrack 6
embossed on
the coin or medal 2 and a schematic illustration of the reproducing stylus 14
with the
associated left 16a and right 16b coil of the sound pick-up 16. The depth of
the soundtrack
6 can be used to permit an additional depth movement in addition to the
sideways
movement. It is therefore possible to reproduce the piece embossed in the
soundtrack in
stereo, wherein one channel is characterised by the vertical movement, the
second by the
horizontal movement. The groove of the soundtrack 6 is of a "V" shape, in
particular with
an angle of inclination of the flanks of 450 with respect to the surface 4 of
the coin or
medal 2.
The broken lines in figure 6 show examples of options for varying the depth of
the
soundtrack. This is shown by way of example on the left side but the right
side can also be
described instead of this. This makes no difference since a commercially
available record
player 12 has a left 16a and a right 16b coil in the sound pick-up 16.
If the depth of the soundtrack 6 is varied on both sides of the groove at the
same time, the
width of the soundtrack 6 therefore changes or - if the width is kept constant
- the angle of
inclination of the flanks necessarily changes. A change in the width of the
soundtrack 6 is
feasible in the case of a coin or medal 2 but is not worth attempting since it
requires
greater spacing of the grooves and therefore influences the information
density. A change
in the angle of inclination of the flanks symmetrically or even asymmetrically
with respect
to the centre point of the soundtrack 6 is favourable when using a dedicated
playing
device for the coin or medal 2 with a correspondingly adapted tip on the
reproducing
stylus 14 of the sound pick-up 16. However, in order to play the coin or medal
2 by means
of a commercially available record player 12 it would be necessary to dispense
with a
change to the angle of inclination of the flanks with respect to the surface 4
since such a
change impairs the playing by the tip of a commercially available reproducing
stylus 14.
Figure 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view through the embossing chamber 22
with an
embossing ring 24, first 26a and second 26b embossing stamps 26 and the blank
28 of
the coin or medal 2. It is particularly favourable if a very small gap, in
particular a gap of
0.02 mm, is provided in the embossing chamber 22 between the embossing stamp
26 and
embossing ring 24. This ensures that as little material of the blank 28 as
possible is lost.
Optimally, the embossing ring 24 lies very closely against the blank 28 of the
coin or
medal 2 in order to avoid deformation of the blank 28 of the coin or medal 2
during the
embossing process. By means of this structure and the very smooth surface of
the first
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-12-09
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26a and second 26b embossing stamps 26 it is possible to achieve optimal
compaction
and smoothing out of any unevenness on the surface of the blank 28.
Figure 8 shows the same cross-sectional view through the embossing chamber 22
as in
figure 7 but in this case additionally the first 30a and second 30b dies 30,
one for
embossing the soundtrack 6 and one for embossing the motif or relief 10 on the
side of
the coin or medal 2 opposite the soundtrack 6.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-12-09
